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Plug In Vehicle

Walk into a traditional auto dealership today and ask about buying a plug-in car and there is a good chance you will be told that there are only a couple they can show you because they are extremely popular and they can't keep them on the lot. There is also an equally-good chance you'll be told they've only a couple on hand because nobody wants them. This is only one of many surprising discoveries Consumer Reports made during a recent effort to gauge the quality of the plug-in vehicle retail exp

One of the more popular US college basketball cheers takes place when a visiting superstar player has a sub-par performance and the student section cheers "OVER-RATED" followed by a rhythmic five-clap. The concept has apparently made its way overseas to a UK journalist reviewing BMW's new i3 plug-in vehicle.

The 2014 BMW i3 is not slated to hit US showrooms until the second quarter of next year, but the response BMW has received for the all-electric hatchback has been positive enough that the automaker is already considering boosting production capacity. Bloomberg Businessweek reports that more than 8,000 customers have reserved an i3 so far, which is high, especially considering that BMW only planned to sell 10,000 i3s total in 2014.

A UK analysis of total ownership costs for the cars of tomorrow found that low-carbon vehicles will make substantial progress in bridging the current cost gap, when compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars, by 2030. The big question is whether – or when – will advanced vehicles be seriously cost-competitive? Might we really have to wait decades?

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced its selection of 16 projects in 24 states supporting activities designed to accelerate the adoption of plug-in vehicles across the nation. Under the Clean Cities Initiative, the DOE awarded $8.5 million to 16 selected projects. According to the DOE, the "funding recipients range from communities with extensive electric vehicle experience to those that are eager to begin, but have not previously had resources to do so." Click here for a breakdown of the

This question should be on the FAQ for new plug-in vehicle owners: should I shell out $2,000 for a wall-mounted 240-volt charging station that can fully recharge my electrified vehicle in approximately eight hours, or will a much less costly 110-volt setup suffice?

General Motors and LG Group (the massive South Korean conglomerate that owns LG Chem) will expand the batteries-for-vehicles relationship they've had for the past several years. LG supplies the cells used in the Chevrolet Volt's battery pack and also worked with GM on a demonstration fleet of electric Chevy Cruzes.

It's true that crystal balls that accurately forecast the future of plug-in vehicles don't exist, but for $2,800 you can buy a copy of a report that concludes with this bit of info: worldwide cumulative plug-in vehicle sales will reach 5.2 million units by 2017.

Portland, OR strives to be the U.S. hub for plug-in vehicles. What other city has dedicated an entire block to plug-in vehicle charging? During a ceremony on Tuesday, Portland mayor Sam Adams plugged in the first vehicle at "Electric Avenue" and dedicated the charger-lined street. On display for the ceremony were plug-in vehicles from Nissan, Chevrolet and Mitsubishi and charging stations from Eaton, Ecotality, General Electric, OpConnect, Shorepower Technologies, and SPX.

Having collated and analyzed 12 months of data from electric vehicle drivers, CABLED – the UK's long-term, low-carbon vehicle trial – reveals that, among other findings, the "range of electric vehicles more than covers most users' needs, with most drivers finishing their daily journeys still with over 40 percent charge remaining." Here's a rundown of some of the result from CABLED:

Residents of Hawai'i have less than four months to take advantage of up to $4,500 in rebates for plug-in vehicles and $500 in incentives for the purchase and installation of a home or business charging system.

Back in February, President Obama proposed changing the credit for plug-in vehicles over to a point-of-purchase rebate, a move that would likely speed up the $7,500 payment. Under the proposal, dealers would reduce the sticker price of eligible plug-in vehicles and apply for reimbursement from the government.

Back in February, President Obama proposed changing the credit for plug-in vehicles over to a point-of-purchase rebate, a move that would likely speed up the $7,500 payment. Under the proposal, dealers would reduce the sticker price of eligible plug-in vehicles and apply for reimbursement from the government.

Last Friday, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa celebrated the installation of Coulomb Technologies' 500th plug-in vehicle charging station. That's interesting in and of itself, but it was something Chu said that captured our attention. First, Chu opened with this obligatory statement:

The 2011 Electric Car Guide, written by Michael Boxwell – a man with years of day-to-day experience behind the wheel of battery-powered vehicles – is now available for purchase in both eBook and paperback format.